Sports Urawa Reds banned from Emperor’s Cup ⚽️

The club, based in Saitama, is the first to be banned from the prestigious soccer tournament since the J.League, Japan's first professional soccer league, started in 1993. The Reds, as the team is called, are eight-time winners of the Emperor's Cup, which is open to professional and amateur clubs, as well as university teams. "We hope that Urawa supporters face up to the serious consequences of their actions," the JFA's disciplinary committee said. The committee also said the J.League team "hasn't done enough" to improve fan behavior. "In fact, it's getting worse to the point where they are turning into mobs," the committee said. After the Reds lost to Nagoya Grampus 0-3 in an Emperor's Cup game in Nagoya on Aug. 2, more than 70 Urawa fans stormed the field and clashed with security guards and rival supporters. Eighteen of the hooligans have since been banned from attending matches. The committee said there have been 11 incidents involving Reds fans since 2000 that have led the JFA to impose fines or take other disciplinary measures.

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